tough found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough found" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words and lacks clarity or meaning in context. Example: "The tough found in the wilderness was challenging for the hikers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In Canada's story, Tough found a deep and complicated character fighting to accomplish a valiant goal in the face of terrific odds.

The New York Times - Books

Those within the firm who wanted to be tough found themselves outmaneuvered by those who wanted to make compromises to keep business that might otherwise be lost to competitors — competitors who were not above making compromises themselves.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Although it was quite tough, I found housing and secured transportation.

Huffington Post

Best friends are tough to find and sometimes even tougher to keep.

Huffington Post

It's tough to find a job these days and, sometimes, tougher still to keep one.

Huffington Post

It's tough to find a good tutor, and it's even tougher to find a good tutor on short notice.

TechCrunch

They'll be tough to find.

The New York Times

"It was tough to find parking.

The New York Times

These homes are tough to find.

The New York Times

Southern salt is tough to find, he explained.

The New Yorker

"It's got to be tough to find them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "tough found" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "difficult to find" or "hard to discover".

Common error

Using "tough found" often stems from misunderstanding verb tenses or proper adjectival usage. Always ensure verbs agree in tense and adjectives are used correctly to modify nouns. For instance, using "tough to find" or "difficult to locate" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough found" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard English phrase. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue. The word "tough" typically functions as an adjective, and its direct combination with "found" creates an ungrammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tough found" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical issue. Its intended meaning, to express difficulty in finding something, is better conveyed through alternatives like "difficult to find" or "hard to discover". While it appears in some news and media sources, its incorrect structure makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid using "tough found" and instead opt for more grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to discover

Replaces "tough" with "hard" to convey difficulty and "found" with "discover" maintaining the finding aspect.

difficult to locate

Substitutes "tough" with "difficult" and "found" with "locate", both implying a challenging search.

challenging to find

"Challenging" emphasizes the level of difficulty in the act of finding.

struggled to find

Implies an active effort against resistance in the process of finding.

had a tough time finding

Adds context about the experience of the search.

found it difficult

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the difficulty experienced.

encountered difficulty

Shifts the focus to experiencing hardship rather than finding something.

faced adversity

Highlights the confrontation with unfavorable circumstances.

experienced hardship

Emphasizes the suffering or difficulty encountered.

ran into trouble

Indicates an unexpected encounter with problems or difficulties.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "tough found"?

Instead of "tough found", consider using phrases like "difficult to find", "hard to discover", or "challenging to locate". These options are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Is "tough found" grammatically correct?

No, "tough found" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's an unusual combination of words that doesn't convey a clear meaning and isn't commonly used.

How can I use "tough" correctly when referring to something that's hard to find?

Use "tough" with an infinitive verb. For example, "It's "tough to find" a good apartment in the city". This construction is grammatically sound and expresses the intended meaning clearly.

What's the difference between "tough to find" and "difficult to find"?

While both ""tough to find"" and ""difficult to find"" convey a similar meaning, "tough" is slightly more informal. "Difficult" is generally more appropriate in formal writing.